Elvish Lives!
10-22-19, 07:55 AM
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Elvish Lives!
I was doing a bit of online research on the brand, and came across a couple of things. One is a French article that finally explained where they fit in the world of C&V, and the other was the quote in the title, from a thread on this very forum...
Anyway you know I can't resist a bargain, so here are the pics. I'm hoping it will be of sufficient standing to accompany Mr & Mrs @non-fixie in Anjou next year, with my OH driving.
Anyway you know I can't resist a bargain, so here are the pics. I'm hoping it will be of sufficient standing to accompany Mr & Mrs @non-fixie in Anjou next year, with my OH driving.
10-22-19, 07:59 AM
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I'd likely go broke if I lived in France with all those old bikes needing new homes . . .
Nice bike.
Nice bike.
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10-22-19, 07:59 AM
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The icing on the cake was in the little saddle bag...
10-22-19, 08:04 AM
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10-22-19, 08:06 AM
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*I'll let you know how it goes...
10-22-19, 08:09 AM
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They have weber kettle grills in France?
10-22-19, 08:11 AM
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That's an oldy but a goody. The rear dropout looks like a post war Cyclo. I think I still have an Elvish wool jersey from the 1970s.
10-22-19, 12:27 PM
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A little rub with polishing compound reveals a rather fabulous metallic bronze...
10-22-19, 12:31 PM
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Nice! Just a little spit and polish and it's good to go.
It does seem to be missing a few gear-related items. Are you planning to bring it back to its former three or four-speed glory? Also, bar and stem assembly looks to be somewhat newer than the rest?
Anyway, love the bike, and am looking forward to seeing it in action on the Loire banks next year!
It does seem to be missing a few gear-related items. Are you planning to bring it back to its former three or four-speed glory? Also, bar and stem assembly looks to be somewhat newer than the rest?
Anyway, love the bike, and am looking forward to seeing it in action on the Loire banks next year!
10-22-19, 11:45 PM
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Wonderful details on that one; thanks for sharing! Is that a mounting bracet for and old Cycle RD on the chain stay? No need to limit yourself a single speed then, eh?
Since the holes are there for it, are going to lace up a skirt guard on the bike as you bring it back to life?
Since the holes are there for it, are going to lace up a skirt guard on the bike as you bring it back to life?
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● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
10-23-19, 02:41 AM
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oh....and, i thought it was gonna be a joke about elvish preshley 
10-23-19, 03:26 AM
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Wonderful details on that one; thanks for sharing! Is that a mounting bracet for and old Cycle RD on the chain stay? No need to limit yourself a single speed then, eh?
Since the holes are there for it, are going to lace up a skirt guard on the bike as you bring it back to life?
Since the holes are there for it, are going to lace up a skirt guard on the bike as you bring it back to life?
10-23-19, 06:16 AM
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What a nice bike. Must have been expensive back in it's day. A lot of premium features you don't usually see on roadsters. I would restore the skirt guard. It fits with the all decked out look look of this bike. Great find.
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10-27-19, 08:53 AM
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This is going to take some elbow grease...
Any recommendations on dismantling the mudguards without ruining the wiring for the dynamo? The wires run inside the channel on the inside lip of the guards, front & rear. I don't want to wreck this like my last attempt...
Any recommendations on dismantling the mudguards without ruining the wiring for the dynamo? The wires run inside the channel on the inside lip of the guards, front & rear. I don't want to wreck this like my last attempt...
10-27-19, 02:07 PM
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Nice find! Just picked up an Elvish myself today (near Pau!) - 70s, Orange racer, mostly original. Will post some pics when I've got my first 10 posts done. Following to see how your progress goes!
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10-27-19, 03:37 PM
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Excellent! look forward to seeing the pics!
11-09-19, 11:57 AM
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-----
Congratulations on this wonderful find and thanks for sharing it with the forum.
Shall look forward to following along as you work with it.
---
Frame -
constructed with BOCAMA lug pattern 81/I
BOCAMA seat lug Nr. T
BOCAMA bottom bracket shell "Trident"
laterals bridge BOCAMA "Plain"
NERVEX dropouts Ref. 1036 G & 1036 D
dynamo boss NERVEX 898AR
pump peg NERVEX Ref. 845
---
Elvish sponsored local racer and Pau native Victor Fontan for their team of the early 1930's. They continued to produce bicycles with the Fontan name until quite late in the life of the firm.
You might like to see this berceau which appears to hail from near to 1950. It is marked with both the Fontan and Elvish names -
-----
Congratulations on this wonderful find and thanks for sharing it with the forum.
Shall look forward to following along as you work with it.
---
Frame -
constructed with BOCAMA lug pattern 81/I
BOCAMA seat lug Nr. T
BOCAMA bottom bracket shell "Trident"
laterals bridge BOCAMA "Plain"
NERVEX dropouts Ref. 1036 G & 1036 D
dynamo boss NERVEX 898AR
pump peg NERVEX Ref. 845
---
Elvish sponsored local racer and Pau native Victor Fontan for their team of the early 1930's. They continued to produce bicycles with the Fontan name until quite late in the life of the firm.
You might like to see this berceau which appears to hail from near to 1950. It is marked with both the Fontan and Elvish names -
-----
Last edited by juvela; 11-10-19 at 10:34 AM. Reason: addition
11-09-19, 12:12 PM
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-----
Here are two images of Victor Fontan from the early 1930's riding for the Elvish team. He was a silver medalist in the Los Angeles Olympic Games of 1932 (team pursuit).
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Here are some Elvish marked fittings found on an Elvish machine dated by its owner as ca. 1940. Its rear brake caliper is marked Fontan.
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Here are two images of Victor Fontan from the early 1930's riding for the Elvish team. He was a silver medalist in the Los Angeles Olympic Games of 1932 (team pursuit).
---
Here are some Elvish marked fittings found on an Elvish machine dated by its owner as ca. 1940. Its rear brake caliper is marked Fontan.
---
11-09-19, 12:24 PM
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For those of you who missed the unusual quads on Victor.
11-10-19, 01:42 AM
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Excellent info, than you @juvela . I've ordered 2mm banana connectors, the VO cables have arrived and I reckon another 2 months of cleaning should get it almost spotless. I'm sure its never been cleaned. The dynamo produces a voltage when spun which is excellent, and the yellow headlight bulb is stored in cotton wool...
11-10-19, 01:52 AM
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From Wiki: "He raced from 1910, became a professional in 1913, then fought in the first world war. He was shot twice in one leg". No snowflakes in that generation...
11-10-19, 10:09 AM
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From Wiki: "He raced from 1910, became a professional in 1913, then fought in the first world war. He was shot twice in one leg". No snowflakes in that generation...